Don’t Look Vertically; Look Horizontally

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.  (2 Kings 5:9-11)

Naaman was a highly respected military commander, accustomed to receiving honor and special treatment everywhere he went. When he came to Elisha's house seeking healing from leprosy, Elisha did not even come out to meet him. Instead, he sent a messenger with simple instructions for him to follow: “Wash in the Jordan River seven times.” But Naaman was offended before he had even attempted to follow what the Prophet said.

His anger reveals something we should consider. He was more focused on whether he was being shown appropriate respect than on whether he would actually receive what he had come for. Respect from people, or the lack of it, can easily distract you from receiving what God has for you. If you allow your attention to remain fixed on how you are being treated rather than on whether you are obeying the instructions, you can fall into this trap.

This is a common trap for many believers, especially young believers. Getting caught up in whether someone shows you honor in a specific way or whether your expectations are being met can quietly derail your faith before it ever has a chance to produce visible results. The real question was never whether Elisha showed Naaman the respect he expected. The real question was whether Naaman respected God and His Word enough to do what was instructed.

Practical Application

Don’t allow yourself to get distracted by how you are being treated or respected in a situation where you need a breakthrough. Redirect your focus from people back to simple obedience to what God has instructed you to do or say.

Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 55:8